The trend is most clearly seen in the second and middle income quintiles, where the average household income was $31,087 and $54,041 in 2014, according to the Tax Policy Center.

One of every $7 spenton social program benefits went to families in the middle quintile of the income distribution in 2014.

Federal safety net money is also making up a greater share of lower-middle class incomes, according to the report. Meaning that not only is more money going to the middle class, some middle class families depend on it more.

One key finding: Health care is a big driver. Medicaid expansionhas made more lower-middle income Americans eligible for the program, and now less than half of Medicaid spending goes to the lowest quintile.

Medicaid spending on elderly households (65 years or older) has tripled since 1979, and around 60% of it went to the elderly in the middle class in 2014, the study found.

Increased subsidies for the Affordable Care Act has also contributed to the overall trend.

There has also been notable growth in the share of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that have gone to those lower-middle income quintiles, according to the report.

White House eyes changes to HHS, welfare programs

Photo: Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images

The Trump administration is planning to consolidate welfare programs and rename the Health and Human Services Department, Politico reports.

Why it matters: It may not actually happen — big changes like this usually have to be approved by Congress. However, it shows that the Trump administration is trying to act on ideas promoted by the conservative Heritage Foundation, which has been pushing to move programs to HHS in the name of efficiency. If the reorganization did happen, those health care and social programs could also become an easier target for budget cuts.